Amritsar, Punjab 1 May 2015: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has formed a 7-member committee to review ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ movie.
A press release by the SGPC said that “the committee will carry out an in-depth review of the movie and submit its report to SGPC”.
No time frame has been given for the committee to submit its report. The committee was formed on instructions of SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar.
As per media reports, the committee will pin point the objectionable parts of the film. Sikka will then delete the parts which the committee finds objectionable.
Members of the review committee:
SGPC’s review panel comprises Rajinder Singh Mehta, Dr. Jasbir Singh Neki, Dr. Jaspal Singh (VC, Punjabi University), Dr. Pirthipal Singh Kapur, Dr. Gurmohan Singh Walia (VC, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University) and SGPC’s secretary Roop Singh. SGPC’s additional secretary Balwinder Singh JauraSanghian is appointed as co-ordinator of the committee.
Review Committee – a result of compromise between SGPC and Sikka:
The committee is result of compromise reached between the SGPC, the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and filmmaker Harinder Sikka. Sikka had released the movie on April 17 ignoring calls of withdrawal from the global Sikh community and the Sikh organisations, including the SGPC and Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. After the film failed to trigger any response from the masses and there was widespread opposition of the movie, it was withdrawn by Harinder Sikka on April 21. The withdrawal was result of understanding entered into by the SGPC and the filmmaker that a panel of SGPC would review the movie and Harinder Sikka will have to make changes as may be proposed by the panel.
Objectionable content is not too much and it can be easily removed: Sikka
“The objectionable content is not too much and it can be easily removed”, Hindustan Times (HT) quotes Harinder Sikka as saying.
Even after remaking the movie, he will first have to get a clearance from the SGPC before releasing it. Another committee may be formed later for reviewing the remake, HT report notes.
Whole concept behind the film is faulty, it should be scrapped in full:
On the other hand various Sikh bodies opposing the movie have made clear that there were no technical objections against the movie which may be corrected after review.
“The whole concept to portray Sikh Guru Sahibs, their families and great GurSikhs like Bhai Mardana Ji, is faulty and objectionable as it violates established Sikh tenets and in return deeply hurts Sikh sentiments” said Dr. Sewak Singh, Assit. Professor of Religion (Eternal University, HP).
A Dal Khalsa representative said that ‘whole idea of the movie is objectionable as Sikh Gurus can not be portrayed through visual media’. “The movie should be scrapped in totality” he said.